Campaigners are celebrating after two men jailed in connection with a woman's murder were granted leave to appeal.

Barri White was jailed for life for killing his girlfriend Rachel Manning, whose body was found at a golf club in Buckinghamshire in December 2000.

Keith Hyatt was jailed for five years for perverting the course of justice.

Campaigners hope the case will be heard by the Appeal Court in London this year. It follows a BBC probe which queried forensic evidence in the case.

Dennis Gilmartin, the brother-in-law of Hyatt, told the BBC News website: "Obviously we hope the convictions can be overturned."

Keith Hyatt was found guilty of perverting the course of justice

Both men have always protested their innocence and their families have led a long campaign to clear their names.

The appeal court could decide to rule the conviction unjust, or order a retrial, or decide the convictions are safe.

A BBC Rough Justice investigation, broadcast in March 2005, commissioned independent forensic expert Dr Peter Bull from the University of Oxford to review the forensic evidence against White and Hyatt.

He concluded: "There is just no evidence. None whatsoever."

Thames Valley Police have said they will co-operate with any appeal process.